Self-regulated Learning Activities Research Articles

Embedded online self-regulated learning activities improve student experience and learning outcomes

Self-regulated learners achieve academic success by employing specific cognitive, metacognitive, behavioural, and resource management strategies. In fully online learning environments, these strategies are critical but are often challenging for first-year undergraduates to develop. This study presents a novel approach to supporting undergraduates' development of Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) skills in a fully online first-year psychology course. Seven SRL activities were embedded as micro-assessments within the summative assessment structure. Qualitative and quantitative data from students across multiple teaching periods were analysed. Results show that embedding content-specific SRL activities improved academic performance, increased engagement, and built a stronger online learning community. The impact of deliberately integrating SRL principles into the course design and assessment structure on student Self-Regulated Learning Online (SRL-O) questionnaire scores at the start and conclusion of the course will also be discussed. Overall, this study demonstrates that purposeful integration of SRL principles into course design and assessment can improve academic outcomes and foster positive learning experiences for first-year undergraduate students who are studying online.

Getting the Most Out of Every Training Day: The Influence of Instructors on Self-Regulated Learning During Firefighter Leadership Courses

Leadership courses in the fire services are highly challenging, and they can seriously exhaust trainees and hamper their self-regulated learning efforts (for example, setting goals, focusing attention, seeking feedback). We theorize that experiences of failure or overload can curtail trainees’ available energy resources on subsequent training days, which, in turn, should affect trainees’ learning efforts. Given instructors’ central role in leadership courses, we hypothesize that supportive and humble instructor behaviors decrease experiences of failure and overload and, thus, increase self-regulated learning. Moreover, we argue that supportive instructor behavior may amplify the positive effects of high energy resources, while humble behavior may alleviate the negative impact of low resource levels. We tested preregistered hypotheses with 118 firefighters participating in two-week leadership courses at a German fire academy. The participants completed short web-based questionnaires before and after classes each day. Multilevel analyses confirmed that perceived daily supportive and humble instructor behavior predicted trainees’ reports of daily self-regulated learning activity. Notably, this effect was independent from positive effects of trainees’ reported energy resources in the morning. Supportive and humble behavior did not moderate the effect of energy resources. Our findings suggest that instructors play a crucial role in facilitating effective learning under challenging training conditions. Furthermore, we offer implications for leaders in fire services, who often conduct trainings with their subordinates.

Investigating Smartphone Empowerment for Self-Regulated Learning in English Language Acquisition: A Descriptive Study

This study investigates the perceptions of undergraduate English Language Education students on the utilization of smartphones for self-regulated learning and the acquisition of the English language. The study investigates the ways in which smartphones facilitate the learning of English language through self-directed techniques, using Zimmerman's model of self-regulation and the MALL framework as theoretical basis. An exploratory investigation including 110 students was conducted to analyze their experiences, perspectives, and practices in utilizing language learning applications. The findings indicate a range of levels of knowledge and usage, with students generally acknowledging that smartphones are valuable tools for improving language acquisition through self-regulation. Analysis based on Zimmerman's model yields high average scores (3.42-3.51) for forethought, performance, and reflection & evaluation, indicating students engage in self-regulated learning practices. According to the MALL framework analysis, task design and design characteristics, all received high ratings (ranging from 3.42 to 3.68). This indicates that the app features effectively promote self-regulated learning activities. This study emphasizes the crucial role that smartphones play in promoting self-regulated learning practices and enhancing the acquisition of the English language among university students

There Are Multiple Paths to Personalized Education, and They Should Be Combined

The ubiquity of digital devices has made it feasible to assign different tasks and levels of support to different learners, also in the classroom. Ideally, this is done with the help of formative assessment software or intelligent tutoring systems. However, personalized assignment of tasks and support levels by a teacher or teaching agent has limitations and is only one path to successful personalization. Self-regulated learning and adaptable learning activities, such as generative learning strategies and differentiating tasks, are promising paths to personalization, too, and combine well with personalized assignment. Initial examples of such combinations are presented. I argue that, in order to be maximally effective, different paths to personalized education need to be combined. This combination promises to boost both immediate learning outcomes and successful learning in the long term, and it is facilitated by recent advances in artificial intelligence.

Resilience and self-regulated learning as predictors of student competence gain in times of the COVID 19 pandemic – evidence from a binational sample

Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) was introduced around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that students could continue with their studies during social distancing. Subsequent studies found considerable individual differences in the adjustment to ERT and identified resilience as a critical factor for coping with the challenges of independent studying. The growing evidence led to calls for resilience training in preparation for emergency situations. Against the backdrop of a three-phase model of self-regulated learning, this study examines self-regulated learning activities as an additional protective resource and a predictor for academic performance in ERT. Results from a survey of resilience, self-regulated learning strategies, and competence gain completed by students from universities in the US and Germany (N = 333) found self-regulated learning strategies to be more predictive of student competence gain than resilience. As a consequence, in addition to fostering resilience, institutions should also include self-regulation strategies in student training and support programs to better prepare students for academic success.

Strategies for Learning the English Language as Reported by Advanced Language Learners

The goal of this study is to identify the LLSs that successful English language learners are employing to achieve their academic goals. Twenty interpreter students from a Korean graduate school of interpreting and translating took part in the research. Unstructured essay writing was used as a data collection approach on LLSs because it allowed participants to candidly disclose the methods, study routines, and study abroad experiences that contributed to their advanced English proficiency. The reason for this is because free-form essay writing is more accessible to the participants. Several hypotheses and findings regarding the use of different pedagogical approaches were derived from the analysis of the qualitative data. The studies consistently reaffirmed the importance of an organised approach to language learning and regular monitoring of progress, as we emphasized efficacy of metacognitive and cognitive methods like reading aloud and text analysis. A number of other speakers emphasised the significance of paying undivided attention to the linguistic input being received throughout language-learning exercises. The success of learning a foreign language may depend on the learner's autonomy, which manifests itself in self-regulated learning activities, according to the testimony of advanced English language learners in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) environment. These comments are from EFL students who are learning English as a second language. We look into what this and other findings mean for classroom practise when teaching English as a second language using a strategy-based approach.

Exploring the co‐occurrence of students' learning behaviours and reasoning processes in an intelligent tutoring system: An epistemic network analysis

AbstractBackgroundMedical students use a variety of self‐regulated learning (SRL) strategies in different medical reasoning (MR) processes to solve patient cases of varying complexity. However, the interplay between SRL and MR processes is still unclear.ObjectivesThis study investigates how self‐regulated learning (SRL) and medical reasoning (MR) occurred concurrently in medical students while completing a diagnostic task in an intelligent tutoring system. This study aims to provide new insights into performance differences between high‐ and low‐achieving students in tasks of varying complexity.MethodsThirty‐one medical students (67.6% female) from a large North American university were tasked with solving two virtual patient cases in an intelligent tutoring system, BioWorld. BioWorld was designed for medical students to practice clinical reasoning skills deliberately. We collected students' think‐aloud protocols, based on which we coded their use of SRL behaviours and medical reasoning activities. We analysed the co‐occurrences of SRL behaviours and medical reasoning activities using the epistemic network analysis (ENA) method.ResultsThe SRL behaviour self‐reflection and MR activity lines of reasoning co‐occurred more frequently in a difficult task than in an easy task. In both tasks, high performers demonstrated more co‐occurrences of self‐reflection and lines of reasoning than low performers. Moreover, the MR activity conceptual operations co‐occurred more frequently with the SRL activities of monitoring and evaluation among high performers compared to low performers in an easy task.ImplicationsThe co‐occurrences of SRL behaviours and MR processes account for students' performance differences. The design of computer‐based learning environments for clinical reasoning should promote the acquisition of both SRL and medical reasoning abilities. Moreover, medical educators should consider task complexity when scaffolding.

Do Direct and Indirect Recommendations Facilitate Students’ Self-Regulated Learning in Flipped Classroom Online Activities? Findings from Two Studies

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is a prerequisite for successful learning. However, many students report having difficulties in completing individual online tasks outside the classroom in flipped learning contexts. Therefore, additional support for students should be provided to help them improve their SRL skills. Studies have examined the effects of prompts (e.g., questions) to facilitate SRL but have paid less attention to exploring how different types of recommendations for SRL activities may affect students’ SRL skills, course engagement and learning performance. We conducted two studies using direct and indirect recommendations for 77 undergraduate students in the faculty of education in two flipped classroom courses. The direct recommendation approach suggested specific follow-up SRL activities in various learning tasks, whereas the indirect recommendation approach provided students with general SRL hints but left them to identify what specific SRL activities they should use in the next step. To evaluate the impact of each recommendation approach, we measured the students’ self-reported SRL skills, online behaviors, course engagement and learning performance. The results suggested that direct recommendations were useful in improving students’ engagement in online SRL activities and in sustaining their motivation for SRL, while indirect recommendations played a major role in reminding students of the need to self-regulate their learning. Both types of recommendations could significantly affect the quality of students’ online learning. Finally, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications for future SRL recommendation research.

The levels of cognitive engagement of lesson tasks designed by teacher education students and their use of knowledge of self-regulated learning in explanations for task design

Using the ICAP framework (Chi & Wiley, 2014) we examined the level of cognitive engagement of lesson tasks designed by teacher education students (TES). Explanations for task design were examined for structural complexity and types of self-regulated learning (SRL) activity. Two thirds of the participants designed lesson tasks that would stimulate constructive engagement while the tasks of the remaining participants would be unlikely to stimulate constructive activity in students. Explanations for task design primarily focussed on SRL activity related to cognition in stimulating students’ understanding and showed limited structural complexity. Further attention could be given during teacher education to the importance of constructive task engagement and a wider range of SRL activity.

High Stakes Testing Cancellation and its Impact on EFL Teaching and Learning: Lessons from Indonesia

The differential impacts of high stakes testing (HST) on curriculum, pedagogy, students learning, teacher professional development, and equity have been known in the literature, but its cancellation impact is not yet known. Situated in the post cancellation policy in Indonesian education system, this study seeks to explore the impacts of such policy change on schools, teacher pedagogical practices, and students’ English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning. A multiple case study design was employed in three different high schools involving 3 school leaders, 3 English teachers, and 9 students in semi-structured and group interviews. Their voices were thematically analysed and constantly compared across cases. The results demonstrate shifts on: (i) the individual student’s and school’s reorientation towards their own vision and mission, (ii) curriculum driven and more varied EFL instructional practices, and (iii) more self-regulated learning activities among certain teachers and students. Further and wider scale investigation is required to look deeper on how these shifts occur among larger groups of stakeholders.

Examining the Interplay between Self-regulated Learning Activities and Types of Knowledge within a Computer-simulated Environment

This study examined the temporal co-occurrences of self-regulated learning (SRL) activities and three types of knowledge (i.e., task information, domain knowledge, and metacognitive knowledge) of 34 medical students who solved two tasks of varying complexity in a computer-simulated environment. Specifically, we explored the effects of task complexity on SRL activities, types of knowledge, and their interplay using epistemic network analysis (ENA). We also compared the differences between high and low performers. The results showed that the use of SRL activities, especially the planning and monitoring activities, was more intensive in a difficult task compared to an easy task. Students also used more domain knowledge to solve the difficult task. For both tasks, domain knowledge and metacognitive knowledge co-occurred most frequently, followed by the co-occurrence of domain knowledge and planning. Nevertheless, the interplay of SRL activities and types of knowledge is generally different between the two tasks. Moreover, we found that high performers used significantly more metacognitive knowledge than low performers in the easy task. However, no significant differences were found in the use of SRL activities between high and low performers in both tasks. This study makes theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions to the area of SRL in clinical reasoning.

Effects of real-time analytics-based personalized scaffolds on students’ self-regulated learning

Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) is related to increased learning performance. Scaffolding learners in their SRL activities in a computer-based learning environment can help to improve learning outcomes, because students do not always regulate their learning spontaneously. Based on theoretical assumptions, scaffolds should be continuously adaptive and personalized to students' ongoing learning progress in order to promote SRL. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of analytics-based personalized scaffolds, facilitated by a rule-based artificial intelligence (AI) system, on students' learning process and outcomes by real-time measurement and support of SRL using trace data. Using a pre-post experimental design, students received personalized scaffolds (n = 36), generalized scaffolds (n = 32), or no scaffolds (n = 30) during learning. Findings indicated that personalized scaffolds induced more SRL activities, but no effects were found on learning outcomes. Process models indicated large similarities in the temporal structure of learning activities between groups which may explain why no group differences in learning performance were observed. In conclusion, analytics-based personalized scaffolds informed by students’ real-time SRL measured and supported with AI are a first step towards adaptive SRL supports incorporating artificial intelligence that has to be further developed in future research.

Psychological Well-Being as Cognitive-Emotional Component of Student Self-Regulated Learning

The manuscript reports the theoretical aspects of studying the concepts of students’ psychological well-being in the process of self-regulated learning. The essence of student psychological well-being through a prism of cognitive and emotional personality factors has been theoretically studied. The role of psychological well-being and its components in the process of self-regulated learning activities of HEI students has been described. Psychological well-being has been viewed as an integral indicator of the level of personality, which affects resistance, and manifests itself in subjectively tangible satisfaction and life satisfaction. Self-regulated learning has been considered as a metacognitive level of initiation, motivation, monitoring, evaluation and control of all kinds and forms of internal and external activities by the subject of learning, which are aimed at reaching the predetermined goals of learning, personal and professional self-development and self-realization. The results of empirical research with the use of K. Ryff’s questionnaire entitled “Scales of Psychological Well-being,” as adapted by S. Karskanova, allowed us to evaluate personal growth, positive relationships with others, goals in life, managing environment, autonomy and self-acceptance which are indicators of individuals’ psychological well-being. Methods of statistical data processing such as descriptive statistics (group median - Me, arithmetic mean - M, standard deviation - σ) and the Kruskal-Wallis test, confirmed the existence of a statistically significant linear age-related decrease in indicators on the “Autonomy” Scale for the senior students. Analysis of the empirical data on the levels of defined psychological well-being has showed a linear correlation between psychological well-being and its levels. It has been concluded that the cognitive-emotional aspects of psychological well-being of modern student youth in learning activities have been dominated by dependent types of self-regulation in learning. The results have indicated that the most appropriate means to improve the psychological well-being of students, as a component of the emotional and behavioral level, is the formation of their active life position, responsibility for their own activities, motivation and autonomy in self-regulated learning activities. Prospective directions for future research have been described.

The Relationship Between Self-Regulated Learning on Learning Motivation and e-Learning Activities in Virtual Learning at SMAN 9 Tasikmalaya City

Virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic requires an investigation into the psychological development of students. This study aims to determine the relationship between self-regulated learning on student learning activities using e-learning. This research was conducted in May 2022 on class XI students at SMAN 9 Kota Tasikmalaya by taking a sample of 100 students to fill out a questionnaire. Structural equation modeling partial least square (SEM-PLS) was used to analyze the data in the study. The results showed that the value of the path coefficient of all variables was 0.000 so that there was a significant relationship between self-regulated learning (SLR), learning motivation and e-learning student activity. So to get optimal results during virtual learning, the formation of student SLR is one thing that needs to be focused.

When (deliberate) practice is not enough – the role of intelligence, practice, and knowledge in academic performance

It is well established that academic performance (AP) depends on a number of factors, such as intellectual capacities, practice, and previous knowledge. We know little about how these factors interact as they are rarely measured simultaneously. Here we present mediated-Factors of Academic Performance (m-FAP) model, which simultaneously assesses direct and indirect, mediated, effects on AP. In a semester-long study with 118 first-year college students, we show that intelligence and working memory only indirectly influenced AP on a familiar, less challenging college course (Introduction to Psychology). Their influence was mediated through previous knowledge and self-regulated learning activities akin to deliberate practice. In a novel and more challenging course (Statistics in Psychology), intellectual capacities influenced performance both directly and indirectly through previous knowledge. The influence of deliberate practice, however, was considerably weaker in the novel course. The amount of time and effort that the students spent on the more difficult course could not offset the advantage of their more intelligent and more knowledgeable peers. The m–FAP model explains previous contradictory results by providing a framework for understanding the extent and limitations of individual factors in AP, which depend not only on each other, but also on the learning context.

The Dynamics Between Self-Regulated Learning and Learning Outcomes: an Exploratory Approach and Implications

Self-regulated learning (SRL) has been linked to improved learning and corresponding learning outcomes. However, there is a need for more precise insights into how SRL during learning contributes to specific learning outcomes. We operationalised four learning outcomes that varied on two dimensions: structure/connectedness and level/deepness of knowledge. Specifically, we assessed how surface knowledge measured with a domain knowledge test (independent concepts) and a concept map (connected concepts), and deep knowledge measured with a transfer test (independent concepts) and an essay (connected concepts) were associated with frequencies of SRL activities during learning, assessed by concurrent think aloud, while taking into account students’ metacognitive and prior knowledge. Forty-four university students performed a 45-minute problem-solving task integrating information about three topics to write a vision essay on the future of education. Results of the pre-/post-test analysis revealed a learning gain in domain knowledge and concept maps. Low cognitive activities were associated with all knowledge measures, except the concept maps and transfer. Furthermore, specific low cognitive activities showed either a positive or negative association; for example, processing showed a positive association with essay, but a negative association with domain knowledge. High cognitive activities were associated with the essay (connected concepts), but not with the concept map. Both metacognitive activities and knowledge were related to transfer. To conclude, taking the level and structure of knowledge into account helps specify the association between SRL activities during learning and the related learning outcomes.

Methodological and Contextual Foundations of Metacognitive Monitoring Training Program in Student Self-Regulated Learning

Aim. This manuscript aims to present the theoretical and contextual characteristics of the developed training program focused on identifying the components of students’ self-regulated learning activities with the use of metacognitive monitoring as well as improving the effectiveness of the students’ learning activities at the individual-personal, motivational-volitional, cognitive and metacognitive levels.
 To do this, we sought to analyze these phenomena in scientific literature and develop a training program aimed to develop students’ reflexivity, internal learning motivation, and metacognitive skills; to inform students about the features of metacognitive monitoring and metacognitive control of self-regulated learning activities, their awareness of the characteristics of their own processes of understanding, evaluating and reproducing information; to form comprehension and task analysis skills, as well as understanding of the specifics of performed tasks.
 Methods. A system of general scientific methods was used: analysis and synthesis of the main characteristics of the concepts of self-regulated learning and metacognitive monitoring as a complex multidimensional formation, comprehension of the psychological foundations of self-regulated learning, systematization and generalization of scientific provisions of metacognitive monitoring in student self-regulated learning. This study focused on the design and development of the training program for increasing the efficiency of metacognitive monitoring in student self-regulated learning.
 Results. The presented manuscript has analyzed the theoretical aspects of the concepts of metacognitive monitoring and self-regulated learning of HEI students. The theoretical essence of the methodological and contextual characteristics of the above mentioned phenomena has been studied. The role and importance of metacognitive monitoring and its components in the learning efficiency and academic self-regulation of HEI students have been described. It has been determined that metacognitive monitoring as a metacognitive characteristic of personality determines not only the organization of mental and behavioral processes, but also relates to the academic success of the subject of learning activity, namely the student. The training program for increasing the efficiency of metacognitive monitoring in student self-regulated learning has been developed and presented.
 Conclusions. The program was designed to help students consciously approach the independent planning and setting of learning goals, control intellectual and metacognitive activities, and use cognitive and metacognitive strategies in learning, monitoring, controlling and correcting their learning activities. Since these processes provide students with cognitive understanding of their own cognitive processes, the use of this type of training program will help students optimize their learning outcomes through metacognitive monitoring in the process of self-regulated learning activities.

Helping Learners Become Their Own Teachers: The Beneficial Impact of Trained Concept-Mapping-Strategy Use on Metacognitive Regulation in Learning

Several empirical studies have shown that, during COVID-19-caused distance learning, many learners were struggling to realize the extent of self-regulated learning activities that were required to ensure the ongoing learning progress. Due to the significance of self-regulated learning regarding students’ learning success, the construct of metacognition also gained in importance, since corresponding skills are closely related to successful self-direction in learning. In our study, we focused on the learning strategy of concept mapping (CM), which is (1) directly related to beneficial effects on learning and retention performance, as well as (2) considered to cause constructive side-effects regarding metacognitive skills and, thus, self-regulated learning. To grasp CM’s full potential in terms of improving cognition-related learning performance, however, appropriate training of this learning strategy seems to be required. This raised the question of whether and to what extent appropriate CM training is also necessary to improve the metacognitive skills of our participants (N = 73 university students of different majors) in terms of the accuracy of their judgments of learning (JOLs). Although we were able to show, in a previous study, that the CM-training intensity did not affect the absolute level of these JOLs, the results of our current study show that there is, nevertheless, a significant effect in terms of the JOLs’ accuracy when considering their relationships to objective learning performance. Thus, CM training intensity affects the competence of metacognitive monitoring. In addition, we found that scaffolding- and feedback-including training conditions tend to counteract systematic misjudgments regarding the domain of conceptual knowledge, in particular. Practical implications and recommendations that can be derived from these results are discussed.

How medical students co-regulate their learning in clinical clerkships: a social network study

BackgroundSelf-regulated learning is a key competence to engage in lifelong learning. Research increasingly acknowledges that medical students in clerkships need others to regulate their learning. The concept of “co-regulated learning” captures this act of regulating one’s learning by interacting with others. To effectively cultivate such skills in students, we need to increase our understanding of co-regulated learning. This study aimed to identify the purposes for which students in different phases of clinical training engage others in their networks to regulate their learning.MethodsIn this social network study, we administered a questionnaire to 403 medical students during clinical clerkships (65.5% response rate). The questionnaire probed into the composition of students’ co-regulatory networks and the purpose for which they engaged others in specified self-regulated learning activities. We calculated the proportion of students that engaged others in their networks for each regulatory activity. Additionally, we conducted ANOVAs to examine whether first-, second-, and third-year students differed in how they used their networks to support self-regulation.ResultsStudents used others within their co-regulatory networks to support a range of self-regulated learning activities. Whom students engaged, and the purpose of engagement, seemed to shift as students progressed through clinical training. Over time, the proportion of students engaging workplace supervisors to discuss learning goals, learning strategies, self-reflections and self-evaluations increased, whereas the proportion of students engaging peers to discuss learning strategies and how to work on learning goals in the workplace decreased. Of all purposes for which students engaged others measured, discussing self-reflections and self-evaluations were consistently among the ones most frequently mentioned.ConclusionsResults reinforce the notion that medical students’ regulation of learning is grounded in social interactions within co-regulatory networks students construct during clerkships. Findings elucidate the extent to which students enact self-regulatory learning within their co-regulatory networks and how their co-regulatory learning behaviors develop over time. Explicating the relevance of interactions within co-regulatory networks might help students and supervisors to purposefully engage in meaningful co-regulatory interactions. Additionally, co-regulatory interactions may assist students in regulating their learning in clinical workplaces as well as in honing their self-regulated learning skills.

Using metacognitive prompts to enhance self‐regulated learning and learning outcomes: A meta‐analysis of experimental studies in computer‐based learning environments

AbstractBackgroundIt has been assumed that prompting students to plan, monitor and evaluate their learning process could stimulate strategy use and thereby improve learning outcomes.ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the effects of metacognitive prompts on students' self‐regulated learning (SRL) and learning outcomes in the context of computer‐based learning environments (CBLEs).MethodsTo achieve this, the current study took a meta‐analytic approach to critically evaluate evidence for the effectiveness of metacognitive prompts and identify potential moderators of the effects.Results and conclusionsWith random‐effects models, the results showed that metacognitive prompts significantly enhanced SRL activities (g = 0.50, 95% confidence interval [0.37, 0.63]) and learning outcomes (g = 0.40, 95% confidence interval [0.31, 0.49]) relative to the control conditions. Furthermore, moderator analyses revealed that the effects varied as a function of three prompts features: feedback, specificity and adaptability.ImplicationsDeveloping task‐specific, individual‐adaptive prompts and feedback should be a design principle in CBLEs, such that the prompt effect could be retained, sustainably enhanced and transferred to novel situations.